A Faith That Purifies The Life

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for May 9
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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A Faith That Purifies The Life

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also
called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1
Tim. 6:11, 12.

Many teach that all that is necessary to salvation is to believe in
Jesus, but what saith the word of truth?-"Faith without works is dead"
(James 2:26). We are to "fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life," take up the cross, deny self, war against the flesh, and
follow daily in the footsteps of the Redeemer. . . . 

It is a fatal mistake to think that there is nothing for you to do in
obtaining salvation. You are to cooperate with the agencies of
heaven....There is a cross to be lifted in the pathway, a wall to be
scaled before you enter the eternal city, a ladder to be climbed before
the gate of pearl is reached, and as you realize your inability and
weakness and cry for help, a divine voice will come to you from the
battlements of heaven saying, "Take hold of my strength" (Isa. 27:5). .
. . 

The controversy that was waged between Christ and Satan is renewed over
every soul that leaves the black banner of the prince of darkness to
march under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. The evil one
will present the most subtle allurements to draw those away from their
allegiance who would be true to Heaven, but we must yield all the powers
of our being into the service of God, and then we shall be kept from
falling into the snares of the enemy. . . . 

Any course of action that weakens your physical or mental power unfits
you for the service of your Creator. We are to love God with all our
hearts, and if we have an eye single to His glory we shall eat, drink,
and clothe ourselves with reference to His divine will. Every one who
has a realizing sense of what it means to be a Christian will purify
himself from everything that weakens and defiles. All the habits of his
life will be brought into harmony with the requirements of the Word of
truth, and he will not only believe, but will work out his own salvation
with fear and trembling, while submitting to the molding of the Holy
Spirit.

>From Devotional: Our Father Cares, p. 123, 124.